Dry conditions developed during April and May 2005 across northern Illinois.  By June, the dry conditions had developed into a severe drought with many locations seeing one of the driest Junes on record.  Chicago Ohare Airport measured just 0.76 inches of rainfall during June 2005, which made it the third driest June on record in Chicago.  Normal June precipitation for Chicago Ohare is 3.63 inches.  Rockford Airport measured 2.45 inches during June 2005.  However, 1.06 inches of this total fell on the 29th.  Normal June precipitation for Rockford Airport is 4.80 inches.  Crops across much of northern Illinois began to show serious problems by middle to late June.  Several communities banned lawn watering and began other water restrictions to maintain adequate supplies.  Several small grass fires developed.Many locations received less than one inch of rain for all of June 2005.  Some of the driest locations included, Shabbona in DeKalb County, 0.26 inches; Elgin in Kane County, 0.46; Barrington in Cook County, 0.53; Lake Villa in Lake County, 0.58; Plainfield in Will County, 0.59; Elburn in Kane County, 0.63; Woodstock in McHenry County, 0.64; Streator in Livingston County, 0.73; Rochelle in Ogle County, 0.76; Chicago Botanic Gardens in Cook County, 0.78; Paw Paw in Lee County, 0.81; Marengo in McHenry County, 0.82; Oak Brook in Dupage County, 0.83; Genoa in DeKalb County, 0.87; Antioch in Lake County, 0.97.In addition to the drought conditions, June 2005 was the 5th warmest June on record at both Chicago and Rockford.  Chicago reached a high temperature of 90 degrees or warmer for the last 8 days of the month, reaching 96 degrees on the 24th.  Rockford also reached 96 degrees on the 24th.

Drought in OGLE, ILLINOIS
From 15-JUN-05 00:00:00 to 30-JUN-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Drought in FORD, ILLINOIS
From 15-JUN-05 00:00:00 to 30-JUN-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Drought in KENDALL, ILLINOIS
From 15-JUN-05 00:00:00 to 30-JUN-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Drought in LAKE, ILLINOIS
From 15-JUN-05 00:00:00 to 30-JUN-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Drought in BOONE, ILLINOIS
From 15-JUN-05 00:00:00 to 30-JUN-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Drought in LA SALLE, ILLINOIS
From 15-JUN-05 00:00:00 to 30-JUN-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Drought in DU PAGE, ILLINOIS
From 15-JUN-05 00:00:00 to 30-JUN-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Drought in MCHENRY, ILLINOIS
From 15-JUN-05 00:00:00 to 30-JUN-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Drought in KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS
From 15-JUN-05 00:00:00 to 30-JUN-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Drought in GRUNDY, ILLINOIS
From 15-JUN-05 00:00:00 to 30-JUN-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Drought in COOK, ILLINOIS
From 15-JUN-05 00:00:00 to 30-JUN-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Drought in IROQUOIS, ILLINOIS
From 15-JUN-05 00:00:00 to 30-JUN-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Drought in KANE, ILLINOIS
From 15-JUN-05 00:00:00 to 30-JUN-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Drought in WILL, ILLINOIS
From 15-JUN-05 00:00:00 to 30-JUN-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Drought in LEE, ILLINOIS
From 15-JUN-05 00:00:00 to 30-JUN-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Drought in WINNEBAGO, ILLINOIS
From 15-JUN-05 00:00:00 to 30-JUN-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Drought in LIVINGSTON, ILLINOIS
From 15-JUN-05 00:00:00 to 30-JUN-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Drought in DE KALB, ILLINOIS
From 15-JUN-05 00:00:00 to 30-JUN-05 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA